Study Desk

God, you know that I cried for those who were in trouble. You know that I mourned for the poor.

But when I hoped for good, trouble came instead. When I looked for light, darkness came.

I am always sad and depressed, without any relief. I stand up in the public meeting and cry for help,

What does God above have for us? How does God All-Powerful repay people from his home high in heaven?

I have never let my mouth sin by cursing my enemies and wishing for them to die.

I always paid the workers for the food I got from the land. I never let any of them starve.

I waited patiently while you men talked. I listened to the answers you gave as you searched for the right words.

I waited for them to answer you. But now they are quiet. They stand there with nothing more to say.

But maybe one of God's thousands of angels is watching over them, to speak for them and tell about the good things they have done.

Maybe the angel will be kind and say to God, ‘Save this one from the place of death! I have found a way to pay for his life.'

"God does all these things for people again and again.

So let us test these arguments and decide for ourselves what is right. Together we will learn what is good.

"Would anyone but Job say such things? He has more thirst for insulting God than for water.

He pays us back for what we have done. He gives us what we deserve.

No one chose God to be in charge of the earth. No one gave him responsibility for the whole world.

Any of us can die suddenly, in the middle of the night. Anyone can get sick and pass away. Even powerful people die for no reason we can see.

There is no place dark enough for evil people to hide from God.

God does not need to set a time for people to come before him and be judged.

He will punish them for the evil they have done, and he will do it where everyone can see.

They hurt the poor and made them cry to God for help. And he hears their cry!